Word Study for H3462 (יָשֵׁן)

yâshên /yaw-shane'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningproperly, to be slack or languid, i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die); also to grow old, stale or inveterate

KJV usageold (store), remain long, (make to) sleep.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâshên — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word yâshên, represented by H3462, is a primitive root that properly means to be slack or languid. By implication, its meaning extends to sleep, to figuratively die, and to grow old, stale, or inveterate. This term appears 19 times across 19 unique verses in the Bible, showing its use in a variety of literal and metaphorical contexts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H3462 is used to describe both literal sleep and concepts of age and death. It describes the first sleep mentioned in scripture, when God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and "he slept" Genesis 2:21. It is also used for the peaceful rest of the faithful, who can lay down and sleep in safety because of the Lord's protection Psalms 4:8. Figuratively, the term describes death, as in the prayer to be saved from the "sleep of death" Psalms 13:3 and in the prophecy that Babylon's leaders will sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake Jeremiah 51:57. Beyond rest, it can mean "old" or "stale," as seen in the descriptions of "old store" Leviticus 26:10 and "old leprosy" Leviticus 13:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the spectrum of rest and wakefulness:

H8142 shênâh (sleep): This is the noun form for sleep and is often used in conjunction with H3462. For example, Jeremiah prophesies a "perpetual sleep" from which the wicked will not awake Jeremiah 51:39.
H5123 nûwm (to slumber): A close synonym for sleep, often used in parallel to emphasize a state of rest or inattentiveness. God, as the keeper of Israel, will neither slumber nor sleep Psalms 121:4.
H6974 qûwts (to awake): As a direct antonym, this word highlights the transition from sleep to consciousness. The psalmist declares, "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me" Psalms 3:5.
H7901 shâkab (to lie down): This verb often describes the physical act that precedes sleep. It is frequently paired with H3462, as in the declaration, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep" Psalms 4:8.
H8639 tardêmâh (deep sleep): This term signifies a heavy, supernaturally induced sleep. God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and then "he slept" Genesis 2:21.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3462 is revealed in its various applications:

A Symbol of Death: The word provides a common biblical metaphor for death. The description of a "perpetual sleep" serves as a powerful image of final judgment from which there is no waking Jeremiah 51:57.
Divine Watchfulness: A key theological point is the contrast between human frailty and divine constancy. While humans must sleep, the Lord who keeps Israel will "neither slumber nor sleep" Psalms 121:4, signifying His unceasing care and vigilance.
A Gift of Peace: The ability to sleep securely is portrayed as a blessing from God. Under the covenant of peace, God's people will be able to dwell safely and sleep even in the woods Ezekiel 34:25. It is a tangible sign of trust and divine protection Psalms 4:8.
A State of Vulnerability: Sleep can also represent a moment of vulnerability or moral inaction. It was while Samson slept that he was overcome by his enemies Judges 16:19. In Isaiah, the readiness of an avenging army is shown by the fact that none among them sleep Isaiah 5:27.

Summary

In summary, H3462 is far more than a simple word for rest. It encompasses a spectrum of meaning, from the physical act of sleeping to the finality of death and the state of being old or long-established. The word serves as a powerful vehicle for theological expression, contrasting human need with God's sleeplessness, and depicting rest as either a gift of divine peace or a moment of perilous vulnerability. It demonstrates how a basic human experience is used in Scripture to illustrate profound spiritual truths.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and an adjective across 23 occurrences, inflected in 17 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יִּישָׁן
יָשְׁנוּ
יְשֵׁנִים
יִישָׁן
נוֹשַׁנְתֶּם
נוֹשֶׁנֶת
נוֹשָׁן
תְּיַשְּׁנֵ
אִישָׁן
אִישָׁנָ
אִישַׁן
תִישַׁן
יִשְׁנוּ
ישׁוֹן
יָשַׁנְתִּי
יְשֵׁנָה
יָשֵׁן

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 19 verses across 12 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (5 verses); never once in the other 27.

Genesis

Leviticus

Deuteronomy

Judges

1 Kings

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.